GB2561593A

GB2561593A - An agricultural container and distribution implement for distributing particulate materials

Info

Publication number: GB2561593A
Application number: GB1706279.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Johannes Rademan Schreuder Gideon
Original assignee: Equalizer AG Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Equalizer AG Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2017-04-20
Filing date: 2017-04-20
Publication date: 2018-10-24
Anticipated expiration: 2037-04-20
Also published as: WO2018193418A1; GB2561593B; GB201706279D0

Abstract

A container 4 includes an enclosure surrounded by walls that define a bottom 6, a surrounding side (7) and top walls 8. A conveyer, preferably in the form of an auger 15, is fixed to the container and passes from an outer end that is on an outside of the container, through a wall of the container, to an inner end of the conveyer inside the container. The outer end 16 of the conveyer has an inlet 18 for receiving a supply of particulate agricultural material, and drive 25 for operating the conveyor for moving particulate material from the outer end of the conveyer into the interior of the container. The auger maybe inclined and the container may have a manhole opening 32 in a lower side wall and the opening may be sealed by a cover. The container may be pressured and used for delivering seeds or fertiliser. A particulate agricultural material distribution implement comprising a mobile support structure carrying at least one of the afore-described containers is also claimed.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: An agricultural container and distribution implement for distributing particulate materials

Abstract Title: An agricultural container and distribution implement for distributing particulate materials (57) A container 4 includes an enclosure surrounded by walls that define a bottom 6, a surrounding side (7) and top walls 8. A conveyer, preferably in the form of an auger 15, is fixed to the container and passes from an outer end that is on an outside of the container, through a wall of the container, to an inner end of the conveyer inside the container. The outer end 16 of the conveyer has an inlet 18 for receiving a supply of particulate agricultural material, and drive 25 for operating the conveyor for moving particulate material from the outer end of the conveyer into the interior of the container. The auger maybe inclined and the container may have a manhole opening 32 in a lower side wall and the opening may be sealed by a cover. The container may be pressured and used for delivering seeds or fertiliser. A particulate agricultural material distribution implement comprising a mobile support structure carrying at least one of the afore-described containers is also claimed.

Figure 3 ^P'9ur_{e 1}

2l³

3/3

Figure 4

AN AGRICULTURAL CONTAINER AND DISTRIBUTION IMPLEMENT FOR DISTRIBUTING PARTICULATE MATERIALS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an agricultural container and distribution implement embodying same for the distribution of particulate agricultural materials including, but not limited to, seeds and granular soil treatment materials such as fertilizers that are capable of flowing. More particularly, the invention relates to an agricultural container that is particularly useful as a dispensing container in an elevated position on agricultural implements to facilitate the filling of the particulate material into the container from a bulk supply thereof.

It should be understood that of particular concern to applicant is the distribution of seeds and fertilizer by way of an agricultural implement that embodies a container according to the invention. However, it is envisaged that many other particulate agricultural materials such as other granular soil treatment materials may be distributed in exactly the same manner using the same containers and suitable distribution equipment. The specification will, accordingly, be directed primarily at seed planters but it is not to be interpreted as being limited to such applications.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Agricultural implements in the form of automatic seed planters with or without a simultaneous fertilizer applicator may be pulled behind a tractor in order to plant or distribute seeds contained in a seed container that forms part of the agricultural implement as well as, in some instances, granular fertilizer that is contained in another container. Typically such containers are operated at elevated internal pressure using compressed air to assist in the conveyance of seeds or fertilizer granules from the container to seed planting drills or broadcasting apparatus to distribute the seeds or granules as may be required into the soil of a farmland.

Seeds or fertilizer granules are typically fed through an outlet in the bottom of a pressurized container mounted on the planter, through a fan of sorts which disperses them towards the back of the implement and towards the seed drills or broadcasting apparatus.

A sealed lid on the top of a container generally needs to be removed in order to enable the container to be filled after which the lid needs to be replaced in a suitably sealed manner. The lid structures may be quite elaborate. The lids on the top of the containers may be rather large and are quite difficult to seal effectively so that sufficient pressure may be built up inside the containers.

Modern agricultural implements can be large and may be of the order of 2 to 4 metres high or even larger. As a result of the height of the implements seeds or fertilizer granules are fed up through an external auger to the top of the containers and then into the containers through the open top from which the sealing lid has been removed. Because seeds or fertilizer are fed in from the top, it is difficult to completely fill the containers as it is not possible or practical to spread the seeds or fertilizer granules into the upper corners of the generally rectangular and typically square shape of container. As a result the containers are generally never completely full with a consequent decrease in overall efficiency of the system.

Also, because of their height and in order to comply with safety regulations in at least some markets, the seed distribution implements have quite elaborate gantry structures over the top of the containers. The filling of the containers generally needs to be done by two people, one standing at the bottom operating the auger and the other standing on the gantry on top of a container being filled to direct and position the auger appropriately and check when the containers are as full as can be practically achieved.

Simply for the sake of perspective, the containers can have a size that is also large and could typically range of from 2 to 8 cubic metres with a common size being of the order of about 5 cubic metres.

There is a need for a container and agricultural distribution implement that can obviate, at least to some extent, one or more disadvantages associated with containers on existing agricultural distribution implements.

The preceding discussion of the background to the invention is intended only to facilitate an understanding of the present invention. It should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgment or admission that any of the material referred to was part of the common general knowledge in the art as at the priority date of the application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of this invention there is provided a container for particulate agricultural material that is to be distributed in a farmland, the container comprising an enclosure surrounded by walls that define a bottom wall, a surrounding side wall, and a top wall, the container being characterised in that a conveyer that is fixed to the container passes from an outer end of the conveyer that is on an outside of the container through a wall of the container to an inner end of the conveyer that is inside the container and wherein the outer end of the conveyer has a transverse inlet for intermittently receiving a supply of particulate agricultural material to the conveyer, and a drive associated with the conveyer for intermittently operating same to move particulate agricultural material from the outer end of the conveyer into the interior of the container.

Further features of the invention provide: for the conveyer to be an auger; for the container to be particularly designed for use in relation to agricultural seed or granular fertilizer; for the auger to be inclined in the operative position with the inner end located within an upper region of the container, preferably with an outlet located generally centrally, with the external lower end of the auger being located at a lower level; for an upper end region of the auger to have an outer sleeve of which an upper wall has an opening directed upwards for delivering particulate agricultural material upwards from the auger and to assist in filling an uppermost region of the container; for the side walls to have a convergent lower part effectively forming a discharge hopper having a lowermost discharge outlet with the convergent side walls being inclined to the horizontal at an angle selected to ensure effective discharge of particulate agricultural material within the container and typically at an incline of between 30° and 50° and most commonly about 38° to the horizontal; and for the shape of the container to be generally rectangular and preferably square in top view.

Still further features of the invention provide for the side walls to have a convergent upper part effectively joining with a top wall to form an enclosed upper region to the container that is appropriate to receiving particulate agricultural material urged into the container by way of the auger and defining a composite top upper extremity to the container so that it can be effectively filled using the auger; for the transverse inlet at the outer end of the auger to be directed upwardly and to have a removable closure to seal the transverse inlet when it is not in use to enable elevated pressure to be applied to an interior of the container during particulate agricultural material discharge therefrom; and for the drive associated with the auger for rotating same to be a coupling, conveniently co-axial with the auger, for releasable connection to a driven source of rotary movement.

Yet further features of the invention provide for the container to be made as a one-piece unit that could be made of plastic that is rotationally moulded that can also be made of a fabricated construction of suitable materials; for the container to have an opening at one side thereof for receiving a unit that includes the inclined auger; and for another side of a lower portion of the container to have a manhole opening that is closed by a sealed manhole cover with the 3 manhole opening being accessible by way of a fixed or movable ladder.

In accordance with a second aspect of this invention there is provided a particulate agricultural material distribution implement comprising a mobile support structure carrying at least one container for particulate agricultural material as defined above.

Further features of the second aspect of the invention provide for the mobile support structure to be a trailer; for the outer end of the auger to be located at a height above ground level that enables access to it by a person standing on the ground; and for the agricultural implement to have one or more particulate agricultural material distribution units associated with it selected from drills and broadcast application heads.

An embodiment of a container according to the invention as applied to a specialist seed container as well as an application thereof to a trailer type of agricultural seed distribution implement will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a three-dimensional view of an agricultural seed distribution implement having two containers according to the invention supported on a trailer type of chassis;

Figure 2 is a partly broken away three-dimensional view of one embodiment of container according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the container illustrated in Figure 2; and,

Figure 4 is a top view of the container with the uppermost part thereof removed to provide a view of the interior of the container and at the end of the auger.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, an agricultural seed distribution implement (1) in the form of a trailer mounted on suitable land wheels (2) comprises a mobile support structure or chassis (3) of generally conventional configuration carrying, in this instance, two containers (4) according to this invention, one behind the other in the direction of travel.

The capacity of the container is from about 2 cubic metres to about 8 cubic metres and conveniently a well-established capacity of about 5 cubic metres. The container may be made as a one-piece unit that could conveniently be of a plastic such as polypropylene or a suitable polyethylene that is rotationally moulded. Alternatively, the container could be of a fabricated construction of suitable materials such as a sheet metal with panels welded together in a suitable manner.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 2 to 4 of the drawings, each container for seed that is to be distributed in a farmland is of generally square shape with rounded corners in top view and provides an enclosure surrounded by walls that define a bottom wall (6), a surrounding side wall (7), and a top wall (8) that merge together in the manner that will become more apparent from what follows.

The side walls have a convergent lower part (11) effectively forming a discharge hopper having a central lowermost discharge outlet in the bottom wall with the convergent side walls being inclined to the horizontal at an angle selected to ensure effective discharge of seed within the container. In this instance the angle is an incline of about 38° to the horizontal.

The side walls also have a convergent upper part (13) effectively joining with the top wall (8) to form an enclosed upper region to the container that is appropriate to receiving seed urged into the container by the auger (15). As will become more apparent from what follows, the composite top wall of the container does not need to have any opening or aperture of the conventional type that requires sealing and, indeed, it requires no aperture at all as in the illustrated embodiment of the invention.

A relatively short upwardly inclined auger (15) that is fixed to the convergent lower part of the side walls of the container passes from a lower outer end (16) of the auger that is on an outside of the container through the side wall of the container to an inner end (17) thereof that is inside the container. The auger passes through the lower part of the side walls so that it extends upwardly into the container at an incline and extends at right angles to the inclined side wall through which it passes. The auger can be produced as a unit together with an attachment flange for securing to the container around a periphery of an aperture through its lower part of the side wall.

The outer end of the auger has a transverse inlet (18) for intermittently receiving a supply of seed to the auger passing radially inwards for introducing seed into the auger for supply to the interior of the container. The external lower end of the auger is located at a height above ground level that provides access to it by a person standing on a ladder or even on the ground on which the wheels are supported. In a common type of arrangement, the agricultural implement may be of a height of about 2.5 to 3 metres and the transverse inlet could be accessible by a person standing say on about a 1 metre ladder. In any event the transverse inlet is accessible by a single person manoeuvring an outlet from a supply auger. It may be that a custom made or commercially available funnel is used to minimise spillage of seed or granular material fed into the outer end of the auger.

The transverse inlet at the outer end of the auger is preferably directed upwardly and has a removable closure (19) to seal the transverse inlet when it is not in use and enable elevated pressure to be applied to an interior of the container during discharge of the contents thereof in the usual way. The auger may be made as a unit with an attachment flange (21) whereby it can be sealed to the container wall.

The outer lower end of the auger has a drive associated with it for intermittently rotating same to move seed or granular fertilizer from the outer end thereof into the interior of the container. The drive associated with the auger for rotating same is in this instance a coupling (25) co-axial with the auger and projecting from the outermost end of the housing of the auger. The coupling is suitable for releasable connection to a driven source of rotary movement as and when required.

The upper inner end (17) of the auger is located generally centrally within an upper region of the container and the outlet is formed as an upwardly directed opening (26) in an upper end region of an outer sleeve (27) forming part of the auger housing. The upwardly directed opening for delivering seed from the auger into the container is arranged so that it assists in filling an uppermost region of the container by pushing seed into it from the auger.

As indicated above, the agricultural implement will generally have one or more seed or fertilizer distribution units, or both, associated with it and selected from seed drills and broadcast seeding heads.

In order to facilitate servicing and maintenance, a lower portion of the container, for example a lower portion of the side wall opposite the auger, may be provided with a manhole opening that is closed by a sealed but removable manhole cover (32) with the manhole being accessible by way of a ladder (33) fixed or removable relative to the chassis (3).

The invention therefore provides containers with an internal auger arrangement that runs from an entry point at the side and towards the outside bottom of a container, diagonally upwards through the container wall to the inside of the container to an open end positioned in an upper region of the container. In this way a conventional separate external feed auger can simply be connected to the container’s auger inlet and the containers can be filled by introducing seed or granular fertilizer from the upper inner end of the built in auger.

This arrangement has a number of advantages in that the containers can be filled more 5 effectively; there is no longer a need for a gantry which can dramatically reduce costs; the attachment point of the auger is at the bottom of the container and is low enough to be reached by a single operator standing on a short ladder or even on the ground next to the agricultural implement; and the inlet to the auger is a lot smaller than the prior art top lid, which means it is easier to seal.

It will be understood that numerous variations may be made to the embodiment of the invention described above without departing from the scope hereof. In particular, it is envisaged that a container as described above could equally well be used for a compatible granular fertiliser or other particulate soil treatment material and, indeed, in instances in which fertiliser and seed are applied simultaneously, one container could be used for fertiliser and one for seeds. Any other permutation or combination of containers is also possible.

Throughout the specification unless the contents requires otherwise the word ‘comprise’ or variations such as ‘comprises’ or ‘comprising’ will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A container for particulate agricultural material that is to be distributed in a farmland, the container comprising an enclosure surrounded by walls that define a bottom wall, a surrounding side wall, and a top wall, the container being characterised in that a conveyer that is fixed to the container passes from an outer end of the conveyer that is on an outside of the container through a wall of the container to an inner end of the conveyer that is inside the container and wherein the outer end of the conveyer has a transverse inlet for intermittently receiving a supply of particulate agricultural material to the conveyer, and a drive associated with the conveyer for intermittently operating same to move particulate agricultural material from the outer end of the conveyer into the interior of the container.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conveyer is an auger and the auger is inclined in the operative position with the inner end located within an upper region of the container, with the outer end of the auger being located at a lower level.

3. A container as claimed in claim 2, wherein an upper end region of the auger has an outer sleeve of which an upper wall has an opening directed upwards for delivering particulate agricultural material upwards from the auger and to assist in filling an uppermost region of the container.

4. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the side walls have a convergent lower part effectively forming a discharge hopper having a lowermost discharge outlet with the convergent side walls being inclined to the horizontal at an angle selected to ensure effective discharge of particulate agricultural material within the container.

5. A container as claimed in claim 4, wherein the convergent side walls are included at an incline of between 30° and 50° to the horizontal and the shape of the container is generally rectangular.

6. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the side walls have a convergent upper part effectively joining with a top wall to form an enclosed upper region to the container that is appropriate to receiving particulate agricultural material urged into the container by way of the auger and defining a composite top upper extremity to the container so that it can be effectively filled using the auger.

7. A container as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the transverse inlet at the outer end of the auger is directed upwardly and has a removable closure to seal the transverse inlet when it is not in use to enable elevated pressure to be applied to an interior of the container during particulate agricultural material discharge therefrom.

8. A container as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the drive associated with the auger for rotating same is a coupling, conveniently co-axial with the auger, for releasable connection to a driven source of rotary movement.

10

9. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container has an opening at one side thereof for receiving a unit that includes the inclined auger and another side of a lower portion of the container has a manhole opening that is closed by a sealed manhole cover with the manhole opening being accessible by way of a fixed or movable ladder.

10. A particulate agricultural material distribution implement comprising a mobile support structure carrying at least one container for particulate agricultural material as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.

20

11. A particulate agricultural material distribution implement as claimed in claim 10, wherein the mobile support structure is a trailer.

12. A particulate agricultural material distribution implement as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the outer end of the auger is located at a height above ground level that

25 enables access to it by a person standing on the ground.

13. A particulate agricultural material distribution implement as claimed in any one of claims

30 10 to 12, wherein the agricultural implement has one or more particulate agricultural material distribution units associated with it selected from drills and broadcast application heads.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1706279.5

13. A particulate agricultural material distribution implement as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the agricultural implement has one or more particulate agricultural material distribution units associated with it selected from drills and broadcast

30 application heads.

25 06 18

Amendments to claims have been filed as follows;

CLAIMS:

1. A container for distributing particulate agricultural material on a farmland, the container comprising:

5 an enclosure surrounded by walls that define a bottom wall, a surrounding side wall, and a top wall, the container being characterised in that a conveyer that is fixed to the container passes from an outer end of the conveyer that is on an outside of the container through a wall of the container to an inner end of the conveyer that is inside the container and wherein the outer end of the conveyer has a transverse inlet for

10 intermittently receiving a supply of particulate agricultural material to the conveyer;

a drive associated with the conveyer for intermittently operating same to move particulate agricultural material from the outer end of the conveyer into the interior of the container; and a sealable manhole opening in a lower portion of the container.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side walls have a convergent lower part effectively forming a discharge hopper having a lowermost discharge outlet with the convergent side walls being inclined to the horizontal at an angle selected to ensure effective discharge of particulate agricultural material within the container.

3. A container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the convergent side walls are included at an incline of between 30° and 50° to the horizontal and the shape of the container is generally rectangular.

25 4. A container as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein the conveyer is an auger and the auger is inclined in the operative position with the inner end located within an upper region of the container, with the outer end of the auger being located at a lower level.

30 5. A container as claimed in claim 4, wherein an upper end region of the auger has an outer sleeve of which an upper wall has an opening directed upwards for delivering particulate agricultural material upwards from the auger and to assist in filling an uppermost region of the container.

6. A container as claimed in either claim 4 or 5, wherein the side walls have a convergent upper part effectively joining with a top wall to form an enclosed upper region to the container that is appropriate to receiving particulate agricultural material urged into the container by way of the auger and defining a composite top upper extremity to the

25 06 18 container so that it can be effectively filled using the auger.

7. A container as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the transverse inlet at the outer end of the auger is directed upwardly and has a removable closure to seal the

5 transverse inlet when it is not in use to enable elevated pressure to be applied to an interior of the container during particulate agricultural material discharge therefrom.

8. A container as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the drive associated with the auger for rotating same is a coupling, co-axial with the auger, for releasable connection

10 to a driven source of rotary movement.

9. A container as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the container has an opening at one side thereof for receiving a unit that includes the inclined auger and wherein another side of a lower portion of the container has the manhole opening that is sealable

15 by a manhole cover with the manhole opening being accessible by way of a fixed or movable ladder.

10. A particulate agricultural material distribution implement comprising a mobile support structure carrying at least one container for particulate agricultural material as claimed in

20 any one of claims 1 to 9.

25

12. A particulate agricultural material distribution implement as claimed in claim 10 or claim

11, wherein the outer end of the conveyer is located at a height above ground level that enables access to it by a person standing on the ground.